Thursday, June 30, 2011

ARA stays the Gateway course

Adopt "the vision" put forth by our consultant for the Gateway Corridor

Continue to be the lead agency charged with realizing that vision

Request the Town Manager prioritize this project and provide town staff support

The emphasis will be narrowed to focus on the 2 acre former Frat Row currently owned by UMass--what Gianni Longo described as a "catalyst". And with the added good news that Robert Holub will continue as UMass Amherst Chancellor for another year, this ambitious signature project can now move forward with all due speed.

Thank goodness some common sense prevailed. This project was really overreaching with its prior talk of potential eminent domain takings. Now it can more rightly focus on the vacant land that was frat row.

More fog. The parking garage was years in the making. Still no one can answer the question. These two decision processes are starkly different. The solar project contract was announced and approved for signing by town meeting in less than 2 months. Tell me why.

No one can give any reasons because there aren't any logical reasons to treat these projects and neighborhoods differently. There may be political reasons that no one wants to talk about publicly or just incompetence and lack of thinking by the town.

Gateway could amount to a $100 million project generating $1.5 million in taxes at current rates, while the Solar Farm will perhaps be $10 million generating $150,000; and even with the deal on electricity will still generate less money than Gateway so, I think if the town was going to shove a project down your throats it would be Gateway over the Solar Farm.